Pitching prospects get good reviews

Andrew Cashner, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, was named the Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week after going 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA.

For now, the Cubs will keep Cashner in the starting rotation at Class AAA Iowa, but if a need arises in the bullpen, he can't be ruled out for a relief call-up. The Cubs already moved prospect Jay Jackson from Iowa's rotation to the pen, where he threw 3 scoreless innings Monday.

Hendry talked up not only Cashner and Jackson, but Iowa starter Casey Coleman and reliever Brian Schlitter, a Park Ridge native.

"Cashner's throwing great," Hendry said Tuesday. "He's had 3 outstanding starts in a row at the Triple-A level. He's been 95-97 (mph) every night. He's a high-level guy that's certainly not far away.

"Jackson's been very good. Casey Coleman's been very good. It's a really exciting group of young pitching.

"Schlitter has been good out of the pen. The choices in Iowa are getting better and better. Three or four of those guys are high-level guys. We've got a nice wave coming of good, high-level prospects, not fourth, fifth starters."

Start your engines: Xavier Nady made his third straight start in right field and his fourth straight start overall. He has been on a slow but steady mend from last July's Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

"We're getting close to the Indy 500," manager Lou Piniella said. "That means that summer is well on its way. I would think that he'll be ready for a lot more duty than he has been."

Injury updates: Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny termed his left ring finger a "nonissue," and he will start Wednesday night, followed by Ted Lilly in Thursday's game. Against the Cardinals over the weekend, the Cubs will go with Randy Wells, Carlos Silva and Ryan Dempster.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez sat for a second straight game as his sore left hand (between thumb and index finger) got another day of rest.

Lou Piniella says the Cubs have not thought about putting Ramirez on the disabled list.

"We haven't discussed that," Piniella said. "If he's going to be out for an extended period of time, that might change, but we won't know that for a couple of days."